Transcript Crusaders - The Art of Battle

The Ice
April 5, 1242
Strategic Context
The Catholic and Orthodox Churches collided in the Baltic during Christianity’s spread from Palestine, hence
the Papacy’s interest in crusading in the region. Encouraged by the Crusader capture of Constantinople in
1204, seat of the Greek Orthodox Church, and the devastation of Russia during the Mongol invasions of
1237, the Papacy organizes a crusade against Novgorod. The crusade comprises an invasion by three
separate factions each with its own goals and axis: Swedes in the north by sea, Danes and allies in the
center, and the Teutonic Knights and allies in the south. Alexander Nevsky, leading an army comprised of
contingents from various Russian states, neutralizes the two northernmost thrusts and raids into Crusader
Livonia. Hermann von Buxhövden, Bishop of nearby Dorpat (Tartu), leads a mixed Crusader force against
Nevsky. Nevsky retreats back into Russia, but turns to fight on the eastern edge of frozen Lake Peipus.
Stakes
No Image
Available
+ A Crusader victory would eliminate the
only Russian field army, permitting a renewal
of the crusade against Orthodox Novgorod.
+ A Russian victory would discourage further
Crusader attacks against Novgorod and
other Russian Orthodox states.
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©
The Ice, 1242
Strength
Crusaders
Russians
Hermann von Buxhövden
Alexander Nevsky
800 knights
1,000 light infantry
1,600 light cavalry
3,400 light infantry
Well
Well
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©
Hermann
As
Crusader
deploys
knights
his knights
begin
intheir
aback
wedge
charge
formation
across
the
ice,
the
their
tinylong
but
Estonian
elite
contingent
levies
flee
of
the
Teutonic
battlefield
atthey
theleaving
tip,
see Livionian
thatenclosing
the Russians
feudal
knights
are
actually
on nor
the
The
Teutonic
Knights
at the
Crusader
center
cut deeply
into
the
mass
of Russian
do
not
noticeKnights
thewhen
Russian
infantry
around
them,
Thethe
Livonian
knights
flee
across
thewith
ice
not
after
the but
Danish
knights
break,
the
Teutonic
Knights
left andsending
staying
to
Danish
fight. feudal
Meanwhile,
knights
onCrusader
the Crusader
right.charge
Theflanks
Crusader
gains
little
light
momentum
infantry,
Estonian
on theDanish
slippery
levies,knights
deploy
ice andflee
tolacks
the
rear.
theacross
desired
Hermann
plans
impact
to break
on the druzhina
Russian
Nevsky
his
cavalry
tothe
hit
the
and
rear.
The weakened
back
thefierce
ice
while
Nevsky’s
surrounded
and
heavily
outnumbered.
The
Teutonic
Knights
break
out the
ofalerts
thethem
Russian
envelopment
but
suffer
heavy
center
center.
However,
a heavy
on cavalry
the
Crusader
charge,
right,
perhaps
Russian
killing
horse-archers
Nevsky,
scattering
advance,
the
riding
Russian
alongside
forces.
Nevsky
Danish
deploys
knights
his
and
infantry,
firing arrows
largelyinto
Novgorodian
their
unshielded
militia
smash with
the
left
flank
of the
Livonian
knights,
killing
many
before
their poor
periphery
vision
to the
danger.
casualties
the process.
Nevsky
allows
pursuit
of the
Crusaders
only
asknights
far as
the
westerntheand
shore.
and other
right
side. tribal
Thein
unexpected
levies,
at the
horse-archers’
center.
Nevsky
volley
deploys
disrupts
his druzhina,
the Danish
elite
charge,
light cavalry,
preventing
on the
right,
with
from
horse-archers
engaging
Russian
other cavalry
infantry.on the left.
Crusaders
(Hermann)
N
Crusaders
(Hermann von Buxhövden)
800 knights
1,000 light infantry
Russians
(Alexander Nevsky)
1,600 light cavalry
3,400 light infantry
Russians
(Nevsky)
The Ice, 1242
Casualties & Aftermath
Crusaders:
Russians:
450
≈200
or
or
25%
4%
Nevsky offered lenient peace terms which Hermann readily accepted: the Crusaders withdrew from all
Novgorodian lands and each side released its prisoners. The Crusaders’ defeat did damage their
prestige however, resulting in revolts against the Teutonic Knights and Danes in Prussia and Estonia
respectively. Nevsky used the victory to consolidate Novgorodian rule in the Arctic north and Ural
mountains. Nevsky ceded to Mongol rule when they returned, collecting taxes on their behalf and
crushing anti-Mongol revolts, including one initiated by his brother, Andre. For his efforts, the Mongols
elevated Nevsky to Grand Prince of Russia in 1252, marking the foundations for future tsars.
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2012 ©